Senior Yan Ling believes that the Huskers are mentally prepared for competition.

Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications

Courtesy: NU Athletic Communications

11/20/2013

Lincoln, Neb.- The reigning NCAA National Champion Nebraska bowling team is set to host its lone home bowling event of the 2013-14 season Thursday through Saturday at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln. NU will be one of eight teams competing at the event, which starts Thursday night at 5 p.m.

NU Head Coach Bill Straub is excited to give the Big Red faithful a chance to come watch the No. 1 ranked team in the country compete. Despite being the nation’s top-ranked team, Straub did say the Huskers have plenty of room to grow, and will be challenged this weekend.

“The best team in the country right now is Arkansas State. They’re one of eight teams competing here this week, and they’re good … real good,” Straub said. “We lost two starters who were All-Americans, and we’re trying to replace them with freshmen. I’d like to think we’re going to be better next spring than we are now. If that doesn’t happen, then I’m not doing my job.”

Senior Yan Ling is also really excited to compete in front of a home crowd, something the Huskers are not usually accustomed too.

“I think it is a great deal to bowl at Sun Valley Lanes, we can finally compete in front of our home crowd which is really nice,” Ling said. “I like bowling at Sun Valley, it is a really nice place to compete.”

As far as the team is concerned, in all of her experience through the past four years, Ling believes that the Huskers are really starting to get into a mental zone—which for a young team, this is something that is really important.

“We are in the zone, the people who are starting this week are really performing well in practice,” Ling said. “I think everyone is in a good place mentally, and I think we will do really well this week.”

Returning First Team NTCA All-American Liz Kuhlkin agrees with Ling, noting that it is such a great experience playing in front of a home crowd.

“I am really excited, we do not get this opportunity that often—to have the Nebraska fan base have an opportunity to come see what Nebraska bowling is all about,” Kuhlkin said. “As usual we are trying to concentrate on the present. We are just trying to do our game and do the best we can this week.”

Kuhlkin added that even though this year’s Husker team is pretty young, Kuhlkin believes that the teams’ chemistry is starting to click.

“It is a little difficult right now because we have so many new faces on the team, last tournament especially we had a few girls who have never competed before,” Kuhlkin said. “Team chemistry is always important, we feel like it can either make you as a team or break you as a team, we always find a way to find it and use it to our advantage.”

Check back here at Huskers.com for updates Thursday night and Saturday afternoon as the Huskers compete in their lone home tournament of the season, the Big Red Invitational. You can watch the Huskers compete at Sun Valley Lanes Thursday night, starting at 5 p.m. Central time. Competition resumes Friday at 9 a.m. and ends Saturday at 8 a.m.

**Media members—We will have media availability after competition Friday night as well as Saturday after the trophy ceremony.

Big Red Invitational Format and Schedule

Thursday, November 21, 2013

4:00 pm Dinner, Check-in, and Coaches’ Meeting (Sun Valley Lanes)

5:00 pm Introductions/20 minutes open practice

5:30 pm National Anthem/10 minutes on starting pair

5:45 pm Five Four game Baker matches

Host Bowling Center

Sun Valley Lanes

321 Victory Lane

Lincoln, NE 68528

402-475-3469

Ask for John Losito

Friday, November 22, 2013

8:30 am Open practice

8:50 am Practice on starting pair

9:00 am Three traditional team game matches

12:00 pm Break for Lunch (provided at Sun Valley Lanes)

1:00 pm Practice

1:15 pm Three traditional team game matches

5:00 pm Bowling Complete for the day

Saturday, November 23, 2013

7:00 am Breakfast sandwiches for participants at Sun Valley

7:30 am Open practice

7:50 am Practice on starting pair

8:00 am Three traditional team games

12:00 pm Awards ceremony

Each day will be a separate tournament. The winning team from each day will receive a trophy.

The Husker Athletic Department will be providing snacks and drinks for players and coaches throughout the three day event. Please do not bring in any outside food or drink.